Cricket Australia has decided to pull out of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates in March due to the ‘concerning’ situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021. The tour was supposed to follow the India-Australia series.
Cricket Australia stated in a statement that the Taliban regime’s restrictions on women and girls seeking education and employment, including the Afghanistan national women’s team, are the reason for their decision not to play a bilateral series between the two men’s sides.
“CA is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country,” the statement said.
Cricket Australia is committed to supporting growing the game for women and men around the world, including in Afghanistan, and will continue to engage with the Afghanistan Cricket Board in anticipation of improved conditions for women and girls in the country. pic.twitter.com/cgQ2p21X2Q
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 12, 2023
“There are obviously challenges for it to resume but we will continue to work with the ACB to take this forward” – Imran Khwaja
The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in September 2021 and imposed a ban on female sports participation. Afghanistan is currently the only country with Test playing status that does not have an active women’s team.
The ICC’s Afghanistan Working Group (AWG) informed the world governing body of cricket in November 2022 that the country’s government had reiterated its commitment to fully respect and comply with the ICC constitution, including agreeing “in principle” to support the development of women’s cricket.
“The meeting was positive and respectful, and the [Afghanistan] government representative was clear in his support for the ICC constitution including in principle for women’s cricket in Afghanistan,” Imran Khwaja, the AWG chair had said.
“There are obviously challenges for it to resume but we will continue to work with the ACB to take this forward. The Working Group will closely monitor the commitment undertaken by the Afghanistan government and will continue to report back to the ICC Board,” he concluded.
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